Author's Note: I'm a Crellie Shipper, but I love Sellie! This is kind of an alternate way Ellie's storyline in Degrassi Goes Hollywood could've gone with someone else making an appearance in L.A. TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK!
…
Title based off Howie Beck's "Sometimes"
She wanted an escape. He needed a getaway. She was avoiding the inevitable. He wanted a change.
Two old flames meet again…Are they each other's solutions to their problems?
"So…which celeb should we add to our posse?" Marco grinned as he looked through one of the latest gossip magazines he bought at the airport's supply store. He and Ellie waited at the drop-off terminal for Paige.
It was Ellie Nash's first time in L.A.; the air, the heat, the people, the scenery… it was all new to her. She wished she could just take it all in without a care in the world, but she knew that would be impossible.
Her father was back home, in the hospital suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress. Marco didn't know, Paige didn't know. Ellie needed the escape. She hadn't seen or talked to her father in the two weeks he had returned to Toronto. Avoiding her mother's calls, her letters, planning on not being home when she dropped by wasn't exactly easy. But Ellie concluded she couldn't do it… she couldn't see the man who she once saw as this huge, almighty figure being put through something so dramatic and emotional. It'd kill her to even relish the thought.
Ellie Nash was supposed to fix things, fix the people in her life who were troubled and confused. She couldn't fix her dad… she knew that deep down. Which was why she needed this trip, this vacation; a chance to take her mind off the confusing things in her life.
Paige had apparently snagged the lead role in Jason Mewes' directorial debut, Mewesical High, and she flew Ellie and Marco down for the "Hollywood Experience." Ellie was in complete disbelief when she heard the news, she didn't even know Paige could act, but she figured the trip was just the getaway she needed.
Ellie giggled at Marco droning on about some celebrity named Taylor Kitsch as he flipped through his magazine. Her smile faded, however, when she looked off to see a group of army men leaving one of the airport's gates. One of them immediately spotted his family and ran to greet them, they were so happy to see each other.
Ellie's mind immediately flashed to the image she had pictured in her head when her father would return home. He was smiling, happy and glad that his wife was now two years sober, and proud that his little girl had blossomed into an independent and highly praised young woman. But reality hit her, and she soon realized that wasn't how he came home. Tears began to form in the redhead's eyes.
"Hey, are you alright?" Marco nudged her.
"I'm fine yeah… um..." Ellie quickly wiped her eyes. "The L.A air is so dry" she laughed it off.
"Hmm," Marco simply said, he returned to his magazine, still immersed in its contents.
"Ellie Nash? Marco Del Rossi?" came a familiar voice.
The two immediately looked up. Sean Cameron lightly jogged towards them, looking all basic trained in his Canadian Forces uniform.
"Sean Cameron?" Marco said as he stood. "Hey!"
"Hey man!" Sean pulled Marco into an immediate hug.
Ellie stood as they parted.
"What's up?" Sean said as he turned his attention to Ellie. There was an obvious hesitation in both their body language and facial expressions.
They hadn't seen or talked to each other in almost three years. The last time they did, Ellie rejected his offer to rekindle their relationship, a relationship that ended with him returning to his family in Wasaga, and her paying the rent of an apartment they once shared.
Ellie was undoubtedly still a bit pissed about the situation, but she figured she could set aside her bitterness for a friendly greeting.
"Hey," she smiled.
Ellie figured he saw the eased look in her expression. He moved in for a hug.
"So what's up? What are you guys doing here?" he asked once they released.
"Visiting Paige." Marco answered. "What about you? Last we heard you were heading off to fight the good fight." Marco spoke to him as if they were old high school buddies.
I guess it's possible to miss anyone if you haven't seen them in a while, Ellie thought.
"Uh… well two soldiers in my squad came here to visit family, I didn't really wanna be a bother to anyone back in T.O., so I just decided to tag along here for winter break… get a whiff of the California Air."
"Cool," Marco nodded.
"Yep," Sean smiled. "So how you guys been?" he said more so to Ellie than Marco.
"Oh we-" Marco started.
"Hey Cameron!" called another armed forces guy. Sean looked back. "Taxi's here,"
"Okay, be right there!" Sean nodded. He turned back to Marco and Ellie. "Damn, uh… it was nice seeing you guys."
"Yeah, yeah, it was. Go ahead, catch your taxi." Marco cheesed.
"Hopefully I'll see you guys around," Sean waved as he returned to his squad.
"Definitely!" Marco called back as Ellie waved.
Sean gave them one last look before he disappeared into the departing crowd.
"Hmm, since when were you part of The Sean Cameron Fan Club?" Ellie asked, raising a brow.
"Oh c'mon, Nash. He was hot in that uniform."
Ellie giggled, shaking her head.
"MARCO! ELEANOR!" came yet another familiar voice.
Paige was strutting towards the two, a huge smile on her face, her arms outstretched. Marco nearly yelped like a little girl as she approached them. She hugged the two.
"Hi!" Ellie was excited herself to see her once foe now friend come to greet them.
"Ugh, sorry I'm late." The blonde removed her huge sunglasses after she released from the two. "Lunch at The Holly with my producer, but I'm here now and a limo awaits to show us the town!"
"What are we waiting for?" an overly excited Marco looked from Ellie to Paige. "Let's go!"
…
Sean wouldn't be missed back in Toronto. He knew everyone was leading new and improved lives since he left. Emma, Manny and Liberty were for surely living the high life at university, Jay was still working out a plan to get Manny back, and Alex had made a happy living for herself in Ajax after fleeing Toronto a year before. There was nothing there for him. Everyone, all of his old friends probably knew what they wanted in life, except him. Sure, he thought being in the army was what he wanted; helping people, serving his country… but it gave him no sense of self-fulfillment or confidence. Being in the army just made him feel more confused and alone in the world than he already did.
No one respected him or even admired the determination he tried to pass off. He was seen as nothing but a joke in his squad. Sean was surprised Williams and Hadley even entertained the idea of him coming to L.A. with them.
They probably figured they'd get a kick out of me scrambling around the city just like I do when we're on patrol, Sean thought.
In any case, he'd try to enjoy his holiday break in California and make the best of what he could out of it.
Seeing Ellie and Marco was a bit of a confidence boost for Sean. He saw them and he knew that they respected him on a certain level, just because of his choice to join the army. Well, he knew Marco respected him…or he just thought he looked hot in his uniform. Ellie probably didn't care less. Sean saw the uneasiness in her eyes when he started to greet her. He still felt bad about the way they ended.
There was no closure, nothing that made him sleep better at night when he thought about her. And yes, he thought about her; quite frequently in fact. Even when he was with Emma. He always wondered what was going on in her life, if the guy she had so passionately fell for felt the same way about her or even if she was doing well at university. Sean was pretty sure she didn't think of him much…. unless it came time for her and Marco to pay rent on their own apartment.
Ellie was just one of those people in his life that didn't try to change him; she liked him for who he was, and he appreciated her for that. He once loved her for that very quality. Now, whenever they'd meet again, it would just be awkward.
Maybe it would be better if I didn't see them around town, Sean thought. I would like to see them again though…see her again…
Sean thoughts trailed off as he approached the taxi.
